Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of Comment Period on 90-day Finding and Commencement of Status Review for a Petition To List the Black-tailed Prairie Dog as Threatened

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of

Comment Period on 90-day Finding and Commencement of Status Review for

a Petition To List the Black-tailed Prairie Dog as Threatened

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reopening comment period on 90-day petition finding.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service provides notice of the reopening

of the comment period on the 90-day finding for a petition to list the

black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) as a threatened species

under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. As amended. The initial

comment period opened on March 15, 1999 (64 FR 14424), and closed on

May 24, 1999. To accommodate several requests for extensions, we are

reopening the comment period for an additional 45 days.

DATES: To be considered in the 12-month finding for this petition,

written comments and materials should be received on or before July 19,

1999.

ADDRESSES: Information, data, or comments concerning this petition

should be submitted to the Field Supervisor., South Dakota Ecological

Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 420 South

Garfield Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota 57501. The petition, finding,

support data, and comments are available for public inspection, by

appointment, during normal business hours, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pete Gober, at the above address, or

telephone (605) 224-8693.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The black-tailed prairie dog is a colonial ground squirrel and one

of five species in the genus Cynomys, all of which occur in western

North America. the black-tailed prairie dog (C. ludovicianus), is found

in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota,

Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas, and Canada.

On July 31, 1998, we received a petition to list the black-tailed

prairie dog as a threatened species throughout its range pursuant to

the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.). On March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14424), we published a 90-day notice on

this petition, finding that it presented substantial information

indicating that listing this species may be warranted, and initiating a

status review of the species.

Public Comments Solicited

We are soliciting information primarily on (1) population status

and trends, (2) management policies and conservation plans affecting

black-tailed prairie dogs, and (3) threats to the species, including

those identified in the petition. The original comment period for this

action expired May 24, 1999. With this notice, we reopen the comment

period for an additional 45 days.

Author: The author of this notice is Pete Gober (see ADDRESSES

section).

Authority: Authority for this action is the Endangered Species

Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: May 27, 1999.

Terry Terrell,

Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.

[FR Doc. 99-14163 Filed 6-3-99; 8:45 am]

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